Revolving fire-arm



(No Model.)

B. MERRITT. Revolving Fire Arm.

Patented Oct.19,I880,

Wmd EESES N.PETEfls. PHOTO-LKIHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

BENJAMIN MERBITT, OF NEWTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO MELVIN L. WHITE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

REVOLVING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,363, dated October 19, 1880.

Application filed June 11, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN'MERRITT, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new rand useful Improvements in Revolving Fire- Arms, of which the following is a specification.

The nature of my invention consists, first, in the method of closing onto the rear of the cartridge that is to be next exploded a screwpiston, which covers and presses against the entire rear surface of the cartridge except at the point where the percussion-needle strikes.

This action forcibly presses the front of the revolving chamber against the end of the barrel. Also, in minor details, which will be best understood by reference to the drawings and specification. Y

The object is to securely and tightly hold the cartridge and the revolving chamber in place, thus preventing any dangerous shock that might occur from the cartridge or chamher being slightly loose; also, to insure more force to the charge and to prevent the escape of the powder-gases.

Another object is to prevent any possibility of thehammer operating unless the cylinder is locked in place.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, showing the interior of the lock. Fig. 2 shows the same in section. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line as so of Fig. 2. Fig. A is a detail showing the devicefor revolving the chamber Fig. 5, a detail showing the device for turning the cartridge pressure-block; Fig.6, detail; Fig.7, detail of the hammer-operatic g device.

Let Arepresentthe frame into and to'which the several parts are fixed. The chamber B may be of any desired size and style, and is caused to revolve by means of the crown ratchet B which is attached to the central spindle, 13, the central spindle, B, being connected to the revolving chamber by means of a groove and spline, b. The latch B of the ratchet is attached to a spindle, b", which has a spring, S, Fig.2, and has sufficient longitudinal motion to admit of its sliding out of the notches of the crown-ratchet B so that the backward motion of the latch will have no action upon the revolving chamber. This latch 5o 13 is operated by an arm, 13, Figs. 2 and 3,

the link B and lever B said lever B being connected to the trigger by an extension, B". (See Fig. 2.) The locking-pin H is moved in and out by the lever H, which, in turn, is operated by the rockershaft H, said roekershaft having an arm, H, to connect with the lever H, and an arm, H, which is operated upon by the pin H on the lever B. (See Fig. 3.)

Now I will proceed to describe the cartridge pressure-block and its operating parts. Orep- 6o resents a cartridge in its place. 0 is a pressure-block, which fits the end of the cartridge, as shown in Fig. 2. This block is provided with a coarse screw, S, which fits into a corresponding screw in the frame A, Fig. 2. Tis a hollow spindle firmly connected to the block G Upon this spindle T, I attach a crankdisk, 0 (see Figs. 2 and 5,) and connect this disk by a link, 0 to the lever 0 this lever 0 being operated by the boss V on the trig- 7o ger D.

From the above description it will beunderstood that if the pressure-block G be made to revolve (it being, in fact, ascrew) it will move longitudinally toward or away from the end of 7 5 the cartridge 0. This revolving motion is given by the action of .the boss V whenever the trigger is drawn to the position shown in Fig. 2that is, to the firing position-the boss V serving to throw up the lever O and cause the link 0 to move in the direction of the arrow and move the crank-disk 0 about its axis, thus causing the block 0 to revolve and press hard against the cartridge 0, forein g it and the revolving chamberfirmly up to their-joints, and thus holding them. When the trigger is allowed to fall back after firing, then the spring S will throw the lever O and link O back into the position shown in Fig. 1, thus revolving the pressure-block back to its restin g position.

As there is nothing particularly new about the hammer or percussion needle E E, they need not be described in detail.

The extension Kon the trigger D is so placed 5 in relation to the lever H of the locking-pin (see Fig. 2) that if the pin is not pushed in so as to lock the cylinder, then the lever H will be in the path of the extension K, and thus prevent the trigger'D from being drawn over sufiiciently to release the hammer. Thus it is impossible to explode the cartridge except when the cylinder is properly locked.

If desirable, the trigger may be provided with a ring, D.

The hammer D is pivoted at 61 and is connected by the toggle D D to the trigger-plate D, the joint of the toggle being so constructed that the toggle cannot bend in the direction of the arrow, (see Fig. 7,) but can bend or buckle in the other direction, as shown in Fig. 2.

When the trigger is thrown forward, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 7, then the toggle D D becomes a straight brace or link, (and is held in this position by the spring S to connect the trigger D with the hammer D so that ny motion given to the triggerD is communicated to the hammer D The drawing back of the trigger D throws the hammer back and will hold it there until the pin '1" on the trigger D gets so far around that it comes in contact with the center part of the toggle, and now any continued pulling back of the trigger will throw the toggle past its center and allow it to double up, as shown in Fig. 2, thus allowing the hammer to strike.

Whatl claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fire-arm, the combination of the revolving cylinder B and stock A with the oscillati n g screw cartridge pressure-block O and a suitable connection between the block and operating trigger D, whereby the block is pressed against the rear surface of the cartridge and holds it and the cylinder firmly in place, all operating together substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the revolvingpressure-block 0 having a screw-thread, S, and the corresponding female screw, with the spindle T, crank-disk O link 0, lever 0 and trigger D, all operating together substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

BENJAMIN MERBITT.

Witnesses FRANK G. PARKER, W. LITHGOW WILLEY. 

